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Research article
Séan Micheal O'Cathail
University of Oxford
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5574-9199
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Background NRF2 overexpression confers poor prognosis in some cancers but its prognostic role in colorectal cancer (CRC) is unknown. As a transcription factor, we hypothesise a signature of NRF2 regulated genes could act as a prognostic biomarker in CRC and reveal novel biological insights.
Methods Using known NRF2 regulated genes, differentially expressed in CRC, we defined a signature of NRF2 pathway expression using principal component analysis and Cox proportional hazard models and tested it in four independent mRNA datasets, profiled on three different mRNA platforms.
Results 36 genes comprised the final NRF2 signature. 1360 patients were included in the validation. High NRF2 was associated with worse disease free survival (DFS) and/or overall survival (OS) in all datasets: (GSE14333 HR=1.55, 95% C.I 1.2–2.004, p = 0.0008; GSE39582 HR=1.24, 95% C.I 1.086–1.416, p = 0.001; GSE87211 HR=1.431, 95% C.I 1.06–1.93, p = 0.056; MRC FOCUS trial HR=1.14, 95% C.I 1.04–1.26, p = 0.008). In multivariate analyses, NRF2 remained significant when adjusted for stage and adjuvant chemotherapy in stage I-III disease, and BRAF V600E mutation and sidedness in stage IV disease. NRF2 expression was particularly enriched in Consensus Molecular Subtype (CMS) 4.
Conclusion For the first time, NRF2 is shown to be a consistent, robust prognostic biomarker across all stages of colorectal cancer with additional clinical value to current known prognostic biomarkers. High NRF2 signalling in CMS 4 further refines the molecular taxonomy of CRC, a new biological insight, suggesting avenues of further study.
Keywords
NRF2, Colorectal, signature, biomarker, prognosis
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A new preprint design is coming!
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This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Research article
Séan Micheal O'Cathail
University of Oxford
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5574-9199
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
History
CURRENT STATUS: Posted
View the published article at Cancer Genetics.
Version 1
Posted 27 Aug, 2019
No community comments so far
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Cancer Biology
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published article at Cancer Genetics.
Background NRF2 overexpression confers poor prognosis in some cancers but its prognostic role in colorectal cancer (CRC) is unknown. As a transcription factor, we hypothesise a signature of NRF2 regulated genes could act as a prognostic biomarker in CRC and reveal novel biological insights.
Methods Using known NRF2 regulated genes, differentially expressed in CRC, we defined a signature of NRF2 pathway expression using principal component analysis and Cox proportional hazard models and tested it in four independent mRNA datasets, profiled on three different mRNA platforms.
Results 36 genes comprised the final NRF2 signature. 1360 patients were included in the validation. High NRF2 was associated with worse disease free survival (DFS) and/or overall survival (OS) in all datasets: (GSE14333 HR=1.55, 95% C.I 1.2–2.004, p = 0.0008; GSE39582 HR=1.24, 95% C.I 1.086–1.416, p = 0.001; GSE87211 HR=1.431, 95% C.I 1.06–1.93, p = 0.056; MRC FOCUS trial HR=1.14, 95% C.I 1.04–1.26, p = 0.008). In multivariate analyses, NRF2 remained significant when adjusted for stage and adjuvant chemotherapy in stage I-III disease, and BRAF V600E mutation and sidedness in stage IV disease. NRF2 expression was particularly enriched in Consensus Molecular Subtype (CMS) 4.
Conclusion For the first time, NRF2 is shown to be a consistent, robust prognostic biomarker across all stages of colorectal cancer with additional clinical value to current known prognostic biomarkers. High NRF2 signalling in CMS 4 further refines the molecular taxonomy of CRC, a new biological insight, suggesting avenues of further study.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
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